Tinting Front Windshield on 2003

[Keydo]

Tinting Front Windshield on 2003

Anyone do this?

The shop I went to couldn't remove the windshield mounted rear view mirror for fear of breaking the windshield.

I called around and found one shop that tried to do it and cracked the windshield.

Either the glue on these rear view mirror mounts are super strong or the removal tool has changed between the new model and the previous generation model.

Has anyone had any luck tinting their front windshield or removing the rear view mirror mount on an '03 EXPY?

Another shop suggested going to the dealership and have them remove it, but I really don't want to go to the dealership who'll charge $130 (1 hr labor) for five minutes of work to remove the rear view mirror mount.

 

[daveplot]

Instructions from Ford service manual on removing the rear view mirror:

http://www.davidplotts.com/ford/mirrorremoval.pdf

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by Keydo
Tinting Front Windshield on 2003

Another shop suggested going to the dealership and have them remove it, but I really don't want to go to the dealership who'll charge $130 (1 hr labor) for five minutes of work to remove the rear view mirror mount.

I wanted to get mine done also, glad I saw this thread. That "Special" tool in the link Daveplot provided might be really special. Definitely won't try that myself. And the place that cracked your windshield probably won't try it anymore either.

It really can't be $130 just for that??? Can it

 

[Keydo]

I just took a guess at what the hourly labor charge would be.

You'd have to make TWO trips too. One trip to the dealership to get the mirror removed.

Then head over to the tint shop - watch out for cops - if you get pulled over - you'll get a ticket.

After the tint shop is done, head back to the dealership - again, watch out for cops!

If the dealership can accomodate you, they'll put it back on, if they can't get to you and make you schedule an appt, then you've got down time on the truck with no rear view mirror plus you need to watch out for cops on the way back home!

With my luck, that's probably what the scenario would be.

The one thing I am wondering though is when the tint shop tints your front windshield, don't they remove the metal base, apply the tint and then glue the metal base onto the tint?

Or do they simply cut a hole for the metal base?

 

[monsta]

Are you planning to tint the WHOLE windshield or just to top part?

Just curious...

 

[Keydo]

The whole thing. I want a fairly light film tint just to protect the dash from UV rays.

Yes, I can also get a dash cover, but I like the contrasting dash on the EXPY and it seems a shame to hide that with a dash cover.

 

[monsta]

Cool...didn't realize that was legal.

Maybe I'll look into that... hehehe

 

[Guest]

its not legal. theres a mark on the drivers side about 6" down. thats how far you can tint it down to

 

[Keydo]

Yes, it's not legal to tint your front windshield.

That is why I'm going for a very light tint just to protect the dash.

 

[Guest]

even a new windsheild comes with the metal mirror base already attached. the tint has to be cut around it, and i dont think it would ever stay glued over the tint and support the mirror.

what you needed to do was insert a release tool at the base of the mirror and slide it up and off of the metal base. i used to do it all the time when i worked at a dealership.

 

[Keydo]

Yup, the tint shop had that tool.

They kept sliding it up, but it wouldn't budge. They ended up breaking their tool, purchased another one and didn't want to force it.

A shop in Anaheim also tried to remove the mirror and ended up bracking the windshield (how this did this, I don't know).

I do not know if the removal tool they were using was specific to Ford or if it was just a universal tool.

Are you able to easily remove your mirror on your '03?

 

[Guest]

im not gonna try on mine, because as youve found out, it doesnt always work as its supposed to. I have had to take some off over the years, but ive always been real careful, patient, and lucky i guess. If you ever have one off of the metal base, look at it real good and you will see the springy tab that has to be pushed, and that will help you "feel" the way to do it on another one.

 

[Keydo]

Thanks. I guess the trick is getting it off the first place.